Florida Fishing Net Regulations May Go to the Supreme Court

The First District Court of Appeals has ruled against two Wakulla County fishermen who are using nets with larger openings than are allowed by the state.

The court upheld a declaratory statement by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. It said fishing nets with openings larger than two inches are gill or entangling nets that are prohibited under the Florida Constitution.

Kim Jamerson is a spokeswoman for the FWC. Jamerson says fishermen Keith Ward and Ronald Crum had asked the commission if their nets violated any laws. She says they appealed the declaratory statement after the FWC answered their questions concerning net size.

Jamerson says the nets Ward and Crum asked about are for commercial use. Crum says he expects to appeal the ruling to the Florida Supreme Court.

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